It takes a lot of volunteers to run a swim meet! Approximately fifty (50) when the Cyclones are at a home meet and twenty five (25) for away meets. There are usually well over 200 swimmers at a meet; most of them very young, so a lot of guidance is needed.
Each meet is divided into two shifts so there are 12 total shifts to cover. The first shift is approximately 6:30pm to 8:30pm and second shift is approximately 8:30pm to 10:30pm. depending on how quickly the meet is running. The announcer will make an announcement a few minutes prior to the start of the meet calling for the first shift workers, and then again a few minutes before they expect the second shift workers to start. We try and assign each family 4 shifts to work. Volunteer assignments can be found in the web site schedule; click on "Meet Information" icon for the meet you are interested in.
If you need a substitue, the swim handbook includes a list of all swimmers and their phone numbers you can use to contact other parents or would like to switch shifts. Margie Alexander (Volunteer Verification) will be contacting all volunteers the day of each meet to verify that you or a substitute will be working your assigned shift. Please remember, it is your responsibility to find a substitute if you are unable to work! This is most important in helping us have a smooth running meet. This is for our kids and we want it to be a great experience!
Job Descriptions:
Set-Up – Must be available no later than 4:30pm the day of the meet. Will be responsible for setting up tables, chairs, computers, etc. and making sure the pool area is ready for the meet.
Starter – Announces events, calls swimmers to starting position and starts each heat. Volunteers for this job must be certified by attending a starter clinic
Stoke Judge – Watches swimmers in assigned lanes to determine if strokes are being properly executed. If strokes are incorrect, judge must disqualify the swimmer and make every effort to inform the swimmer of his/her mistakes. Disqualifications must be recorded on the lane sheets with the signature of the judge. Volunteers for this job must be certified by attending a stroke judge clinic.
Staging – Make sure swimmers are in their proper lane and heat prior to the start of each event.
Timer – Time swimmers in your assigned lane, verify names of swimmers in their lane, and record times on the lane sheets. Stop watches, clipboards and pencils are provided.
Runner – Pick up completed lane sheets after each event from the timers and take to the score table.
Score Table – At home meets it is entering swimmer’s times into the computer, printing score sheets and ribbon labels. At away meets it is verifying times entered and collecting ribbons and labels for our team. On-the-job training is quick and easy!
Ribbons – Affixing labels to the back of the ribbons and having the ribbons ready for distribution the next morning.
Concessions – Selling snacks and food from the concessions center.
Clean up – At The conclusion of each home meet these volunteers empty the trash, mop the bathrooms, and hose down the deck. It is always very helpful if everyone cleans up well after himself or herself as they leave at both home meets and away meets. We don’t want to leave a bad impression at other pools and we don’t want to give the Cricket Swim and Racquet homeowner’s association any reason to be upset at our swim team. Please be thoughtful and leave things as clean or cleaner than you found them. THANKS!